In an effort to champion the health and well-being of cats, the American Assn. of Feline Practitioners and New York-based Pfizer Animal Health are launching The CATalyst Summit. It will be held Feb. 5-6, coinciding with the AAFP Winter meeting in Palm Springs, Calif. The percentage of cat-owning households that received no veterinary care in 2006 was 36.3 percent, compared to 17.3 percent of dog-owning households, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assn.’s recent U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook. “These alarming statistics are a call to action,” said Valerie Creighton, DVM, president of the AAFP. “I think, as a profession, we have to make sure that cats’ medical needs are adequately addressed.” Topics to be discussed include why cats' needs are going unmet, how existing stereotypes regarding cats in today’s media can be rectified and how veterinarians and allied organizations can raise the bar for cat owners to improve feline care. Steve Dale, a nationally syndicated pet columnist and radio program host, and Karyn Gavzer, a speaker specializing in veterinary practice management, will moderate the event. Germinder & Associates Inc. is the managing agency for the initiative. For details, visit www.catalystsummit.org. <HOME>
